The Dynasts: An Epic-Drama of the War with Napoleon Part 81

ENGLISHMAN

Ay; I did get in; Though not without hard striving, such the throng; But travellers roam to waste who shyly roam And I pushed like the rest.

SECOND CITIZEN

Our young Archd.u.c.h.ess Maria Louisa was, they tell me, present?

ENGLISHMAN

O yes: the whole Imperial family, And when the Bishop called all blessings down Upon the Landwehr colours there displayed, Enthusiasm touched the sky--she sharing it.

SECOND CITIZEN

Commendable in her, and spirited, After the graceless insults to the Court The Paris journals flaunt--not voluntarily, But by his ordering. Magician-like He holds them in his fist, and at his squeeze They bubble what he wills!... Yes, she's a girl Of patriotic build, and hates the French.

Quite lately she was overheard to say She had met with most convincing auguries That this year Bonaparte was starred to die.

ENGLISHMAN

Your arms must render its fulfilment sure.

SECOND CITIZEN

Right! And we have the opportunity, By upping to the war in suddenness, And catching him unaware. The pink and flower Of all his veteran troops are now in Spain Fully engaged with yours; while those he holds In Germany are scattered far and wide.

FIRST CITIZEN [looking up again from his newspaper]

I see here that he vows and guarantees Inviolate bounds to all our territories If we but pledge to carry out forthwith A prompt disarmament. Since that's his price h.e.l.l burn his guarantees! Too long he has fooled us.

[To the Englishman] I drink, sir, to your land's consistency.

While we and all the kindred Europe States Alternately have wooed and warred him, You have not bent to blowing hot and cold, But held you st.u.r.dily inimical!

ENGLISHMAN [laughing]

Less Christian-like forgiveness mellows us Than Continental souls! [They drink.]

[A band is heard in a distant street, with shouting. Enter third and fourth citizens, followed by others.]

FIRST CITIZEN

More news afloat?

THIRD AND FOURTH CITIZENS

Yea; an announcement that the Archduke Charles Is given the chief command.

FIRST, SECOND, ETC., CITIZENS

Huzza! Right so!

[A clinking of gla.s.ses, rising from seats, and general enthusiasm.]

SECOND CITIZEN

If war had not so patly been declared, Our howitzers and firelocks of themselves Would have gone off to shame us! This forenoon Some of the Landwehr met me; they are hot For setting out, though but few months enrolled.

ENGLISHMAN

That moves reflection somewhat. They are young For measuring with the veteran file of France!

FIRST CITIZEN

Napoleon's army swarms with tender youth, His last conscription besomed into it Thousands of merest boys. But he contrives To mix them in the field with seasoned frames.

SECOND CITIZEN

The sadly-seen mistake this country made Was that of grounding hostile arms at all.

We should have fought irreconcilably-- Have been consistent as the English are.

The French are our hereditary foes, And this adventurer of the saucy sword, This sacrilegious slighter of our shrines, Stands author of all our ills...

Our harvest fields and fruits he trample on, Acc.u.mulating ruin in our land.

Think of what mournings in the last sad war 'Twas his to instigate and answer for!

Time never can efface the glint of tears In palaces, in shops, in fields, in cots, From women widowed, sonless, fatherless, That then oppressed our eyes. There is no salve For such deep harrowings but to fight again; The enfranchis.e.m.e.nt of Europe hangs thereon, And long she has lingered for the sign to crush him: That signal we have given; the time is come! [Thumping on the table.]

FIFTH CITIZEN [at another table, looking up from his paper and speaking across]

I see that Russia has declined to aid us, And says she knows that Prussia likewise must; So that the mission of Prince Schwarzenberg To Alexander's Court has closed in failure.

THIRD CITIZEN

Ay--through his being honest--fatal sin!-- Probing too plainly for the Emperor's ears His ominous friendship with Napoleon.

ENGLISHMAN